Venezuela primary count unfinished, Machado declares victory

An aerial view shows the El Valle neighborhood, a day before Venezuela elects a unity candidate to represent the country's opposition in the 2024 presidential elections, in Caracas, Venezuela October 21, 2023. REUTERS/Leonardo Fernandez Viloria

CARACAS (Reuters) - Former lawmaker Maria Corina Machado is leading the vote count in the Venezuelan opposition's presidential primary by a huge margin and has claimed victory in the Sunday contest, with final results pending.

The vote to choose a unity opposition candidate to face President Nicolas Maduro in his probable re-election bid next year came amid pledges by the United States to roll back sanctions relief if the government fails to lift bans preventing some opposition figures from holding office.